Portable power-tacker.



M. D. PHELAN.

PORTABLE POWER TAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED 1m. 1907.

958,002. Patented May 17, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. D. PHELAN.

PORTABLE POWER TAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED mum. 1907.

Patented May 17,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WW HI Inventor-nw E w u MfD. PHBLAN.

PORTABLE POWER TAGKER.

APPLICATION FILED um. 1901.

Patented May 17, 1910.-

4 snnn'rksnm 3.

ZUii-nesses: ,Inventory ZM 24M Jays.

- To all where itma/y concem:

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MEBTON IHELAN, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MBSNE .LSSIGN- HENTS, TO THOMAS G. PLANT, 011' BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PORTABLE POWER-TACKER.

Be it known that I, Mnnron D. PHELAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Portable Power-Tackers, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specifica tion, like numerals on the drawings representing like-parts. i

In the manufacture of boots and shoes and particularly in connection with the useof lasting machines of the bed type or wiper type it is customer ,after having lasted in the upper and linings at the toe and heel ends of the shoe, to Withdraw the wipers slightly to expose the edges or margins of the infolded materials and then to tack such margins or edges down upon or to the insole. For this purpose what is known as a hand tacker is commonly used, the same comprising a holder adapted to be held in one hand and provided with tack supplying means, the tacks being driven therefrom by a hammer or other suitable device manipulated by the other hand, the tacks being driven as frequently as desired around the ends of the sole. 7

My invention-aims to improve tackers generally and especially such as are adapted for use in lasting as above referred to.

My invention comprehends a pneumatic tacker which may be used instead of a hand tacker, yet, which may be moved about by the operator quite as freely as the hand tacker.

My. invention comprehends, also, novel means for feeding the tacker whether pneumatic or not, from point to point at which it is desired the tacks shall be driven.

The above and other features of my invention will be best understood from a description of one embodiment of said invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tacker illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. 1; F1g. 3 is a view from the left of Fig. 1,'at an angle of about 45 thereto;

Fig. 4 is a view from the opposite side of Fig. 1, the shell being broken away to expose some of the operating parts; Fig. 5 is a view from the left, Fig. 4, also broken away; Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are dlagramm'atic views illustrating the action of the various parts;

Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed January 2, 1907. Serial No. 350,492.

Patented Mayil'l, 1910.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on the dotted line 9-9, Fig. 1; and Figs. 10, 11 and 1.2,Y

details to be referred toa In the articular embodiment of my invention se ected for illustration herein and shown in the drawings the shell or casing for carrying the various working arts is indicated at 1, it being of suitab shape and construction to serve the required purpose. While various of the working parts are here shown in full lines upon the exterior of said shell, said parts may be concealed by a jacket 2, shown in dotted lines, if desired.

Within the shell and near the top thereof (see Fig. 6) is formed a cylinder 3, in which plays a piston 4 of a semi-trunk type, the same at its lower end projectin through the bottom end of the cylinder 3.115 constituting a driver carrier. This driver carrier (see Fig. i) has mounted in its lower end a driver 5, adapted to travel in a vertical tack driver passage 6 (see Fig. 11) formed in the lower end of the shell and into which the tacks to be driven are fed. The lower end of this driver assage is formed in an extensible throat adapted to slide vertically in a guide %lug, screwed into the bottom of the s ell. he slidable throat 7 is headed at its upper end to form a limiting stop 8 to prevent its dropping too low and it is likewise adapted at its upper end to seat against the bottom of the shell, adjacent the same, in order that its own passage may constitute a continuation of the shell passage with a substantially unbroken wall.

The tacks to be driven are loaded in desired manner into an inclined raceway 9 (see Fig. 4) which deliversits tacks in position to be picked off singly by a separator 10 (see Fig. 12), adapted to slide transversely to the exit end the tacks picked off by it into the driver le material,

of the raceway and to force passage immediately beneath the elevated driver, as best shown in Fig. 11. This separator and its operating means may be of any suitable or desired type, operatin in a manner well understood by those skilled inthe art. In the present instance it is held in its inward positlon (see Fig. 5) by a'spring 11 it being moved back against the tension of its spring by the beveled lower end of a separator actuator 12, secured to the lower end of the piston. As the piston descends to drive one tack, the separator actuator 12 forces back the separator 10 to ermit a new tack to slide out from the end 0 the raceway into a recess close beside the driver passage. As'the driver is returned to its elevated position the s ring moves the separator to close the end 0 the raceway against further flow of tacks therefrom and to transfer the tack received by it into the driver passage (see Fig. 11). These details do not necessarily concern my invention.

To cause reciprocation of the piston 4 in its cylinder any suitable a'rran ement of v I valve or valves may be emplo e In the present instance I have provide at the right of the cylinder as viewed in Fig. 6 a vertically movable tubular tappet va ve 14 which, when raised irom its seat (see Fig. 7), admits fluid under pressure, or examp e air, throu h the inlet 15 (connected with-any flexib e hose or conductor) passing thence around the said valve and through the art 16 to the cylinder, above the piston, to 've the piston downward and thereby drive the tack. This valve is maintained in its elevated position for inlet of said fluid by a tubular stem'16 having its lower, open end recessed conically to constitute a seat for the conical end of a plu valve 17, vertically movable in the head 0 the shell. This plug valve 17 (see Fig. 1) is supported at its lower end upon a cam slide 18 mounted in the upper end of a slide bar 19, to be described. The cam slide 18 is reciprocated horizontally by the depending arm 20 of a yoke 21,.fulcrumed at 22 to the shell head. The ends of this yoke overlie or intercept the path of movement of a pin 23 on a vertically arranged slide bar 24, connected at its upper end with-an extension 25 of the iston 4. As the piston descends in the driving of a tack this slide bar 24 is, of course, moved with it and its pin 23, just before the piston reaches the limlt of its movement strikes the lower arm of the yoke and deflects the latter to the right, Fig. 1, to cause the cam slide 18 to be moved to drop the lugvalve 17 thereby opening the lower end of the tubular valve stem 16 and at the same time, by removing the support for the tappet valve 14, permitting the latter to drop to its seat. This cuts ofl the sup 1y of fluid under pressure to the upper s1 e of the piston and at the same time admits pressure through the tubular valve (see Fig. 6), thence through the port 26 to the lower end of the cylinder, beneath the piston therein, to cause the latv ter to be returned to its elevated position.

The exhaust from the upper end of the cylinder takes place through the exhaust port 27 (see Fig. 6) into the valve chamber 28, thence to the atmosphere past the valve 29.

This valve is-normally ressed by a spring 30 upon its seat and 1s eld lifted from its seat to ermit of the exhaust by a lever 31 (Fig. fulcrumed to the shell at 32 and possible for the device to operate.

with its opposite end (see Fig. 1) acted upon by a pm 33 on the stem of the lug valve 17. The pressure of the fluid in t '10 port 26, tending to depress the plug valve 17, in additlon t0 the sprin 36, to be described, are sufiiclent to rock t c lever 31 and elevate the exhaust valve 29 against .the spring of the latter. Connected also with the stem of the plug valve 17 is an arm 34 (shown in full lines Fig. 1 and dotted lines Figs. 6 and 7) which carries at its end a second exhaust valve 35, acted upon and pressed to its seat by said spring 36. When the plug valve 17 is depressed to admit air to the lower end of the cylinder, the exhaust valve 35 is, by the same movement, seated to cover the exhaust for the same end of the cylinder. \Vhen, however, the piston impelled by pressure admitted past the lug valve 17, rises, and just before it reac es the end of its upward movement, the said pin 23 meets the uppermost arm of the yoke 21 and turns the latter to cause its dependin arm 20 to move the cam slide 18 to the le (Fig. 1) thereb to elevate the lug valve 17 first to out o the supply of. uid to the under side of the piston and open the exhaust 35, and, throu h the lever 31 permit the spring 30 to close t e exhaust valve 29 and, by its further movement, to lift the inlet valve 14'to admit air under ressure above the iston to re eat the eye e of movements just escribed. ere, then, is one form of mechanism which effects the rapid reciprocation of the tack driver to cause the tacks to be driven rapidly into the work. Obviously, the rate at whic the piston will be reci rocated maybe varied by varying the severa ports and passages or the pressure of the fluid employed as a motive power.

It has been stated that the cam slide 18 is mounted in the upper end of the slide bar 19. This slide bar I shall hereinafter refer to as a starting bar, because it controls the starting and stoppin of the device, in other words, the period uring which it is This starting bar is mounted to slide vertically in the outer wall of the shell and, -at its lower end, is adapted as shown to rest upon the work, or a surface adjacent thereto, the idea being that the device, which otherwise is strictly automatic, shall be restrained against operation except when brought to the work, proper proximity to the work being indicated by contact thereby or by some ad acent surface with the lower end of said starting bar.

When not in use the starting bar is maintained in its depressed or lowermost-position, in which osition the cam slide 18, notwithstanding it is in its extreme left hand position, is at so low a level that the plug valve 17 is depressed and the inlet valve 14 seated. In this position no air under pressure can rtach the upper side of the iston, the air,

lasted in a bed lasting machine, the moment the throat of the device is brought into position close beside the edges of the WIPGI'S that have been .slightly withdrawn to permit of the tacking, the starting bar upon contacting with the upper surface of the wipers, or either of them, is elevated relative to the shell and thereby the cam slide 18 is correspondingly elevated to cut off the air from the under side of the piston, open the exhaust therefrom, close the exhaust from the upper side of the piston and admitair thereat to drive the piston downward, thereby to drive a tack out through the throat into the work close beside the wiper which, by its contact with the starting bar, had caused the operation of the device. Thereafter, so long as the starting-bar is held in its elevated position by either wiper, the said device may be drawn along, following the activeedges of the wipers and driving the tacks in rapid succession into the stock along a line approximately following the curvature of the active edges of the wipers. In other words, the starting bar furnishes a support for the tacker, by resting upon the wipers, the nozzle or throat of the tacker overhanging the active edges of the wipers and dropping into close proximity with the work adjacent thereto, and so long as the tacker is drawn around the inner or active edges of the wipers, supported by the wipers through the starting bar referred to, the tacker will continue to operate, driving its tacks beside the wipers into the work.

To prevent the tacks, being driven more rapidly than is desired relative to the rate at which the device is fed or drawn along, that is to say, to prevent the tacks being riven too frequently or too infrequently,'l have provided herein means for causing a prededetermined feed of the device following the driving of each tack of the series.

Referring to the dr'awin Fig. 6, the

shell is provided at the left of the starting bar 19 with suitable ways for a vertically sliding carrier bar 37 connected to'the bar 24 at 38. At its upper end this carrier bar has fulcrumed to it also at 38 (see Figs. 3 and 6) a horizontally extended dog 39, provided at its free end with a pin 40, adapted to travel along a stationary cam 41 mounted on the tacker shell. Said dog 39 is provided just back of the pin 40 with a pair of angularly arranged shoulders 42, 43. These shoulders are adapted to cooperate with the side face of a slotted link 44, loosely pivoted upon the fulcrum 38 of said dog and connected therewith in a yielding manner by a spring 45 which maintains the said dog-normally imposition with its stop face 42 in ('OHtaCt'WI-th the side face of the link. A horizontal slot in the bottom of the link receives a pin 46, which limits the side swing of the link. The slot in said link receives the outturned upper end of alever 47, fulcrumed at 48 on the shell and and 7) has its lower end forke to receive a pin 49 on the upper arm 50 of a feed dog 51. This feed dog is fulcrumed at 52 upon a vertically sliding dog carrier 53, mounted in a bearing on the shell, and at its upper end has jointed. to it a. link54. The upper end of this link carries a pin 55, which lays in a slot 56in the end of a lever 57, fu crumed at 58 on the shell, the starting bar being slotted to clear the fulcrum 58 as well as the fulcrum 48 previously referred to. The 0pposite end of said lever 57 stands in the track of a cam 59 on the side of the carrier bar 37 referred to. The lever 57 is held yieldingly in its position (Figs. 6-and 7 by a spring 60. The dog carrier 53 is also acted upon and drawn always toward its lowermost position by a spring 61, connecting the same with the see Figs. 6

against the action of its spring 61. Immev diately thereafter the pin on the end of the dog 39' (Figs. 3 and 6) meets the stationary cam 41 and, by reason of the contact of its upper stop surface 42 with the side of the slotted link 44, causes the said link to be swung to the left at its lower end. This causes the upper arm of'the lever 47 to be carried to the left, causing its lower, forked leer arm to turn the feed dog 51 from its position removed from the tackdriving throat (Figs.

1 and 2) into position close beside the said throat. During this time the'lever 57, whichwas acted upon early in the stroke by the cam 59, has held the feed dog in its elevated position but, just before the piston reaches' the end of its downward stroke, said cam 59 clears its lever 57 and permits the dog spring 61 to pull the fed dog down into the work or into engagement therewith. After the feed dog has thus engaged the work and just prlor to the end of the down stroke, the pin on the dog 39 clears the stationary cam 41 but the dog of course cannot return to its original position because held by its engagement with the work. When the tack has thus been driven, as the piston begins its return or up stroke, the pin on said dog 39 en gages the said cam 41, this time at its lower end and, moving in the opposite direction, causes the said dog to turn about its fulcrum in the o posite direction from that before until its ower stop surface 43 contacts with the slotted link 44, this time below the fulcrum of the latter instead of above said fulcrum as previously. As now the said dog is depressed by the cam in rising past the latter, it causes the lower end of said slotted link to be swung this time to the right and thereby correspondingly'to move the upper arm of the lever 47, causin its lower, slotted arm to turn the feed 0g to throw its point relatively to the right, or away from the throat of the tacker. Since the dog cannot move because impinging upon or m the work, the effect of said relativemovement is to cause the tacker itself to be fed oppositely or to the left a distance determined by the proportion and adjustment of the parts. After this feed of the throat and driver has taken place, or previously, the cam 59 on the carrier bar, which depressed and cleared the lever 57 on its down stroke, meets the said lever, this time from below, and turns it in order to clear it as it passes. This turning of the said lever, however, produces no effect upon the feed dog because of the slot 56 which plays past the in 55, which controls the elevation of said eed dog. Just before the piston reaches the limit of its up stroke said lever 57 again clears said cam 59 and assumes its position (Fig. 6) under the action of its spring 60, in readiness to be again depressed to lift the feed dog preparatory to a new feed as the next tack is driven. Thus the device is entirely automatic, both in its driving and tack feeding, as well as in its bodily or work feeding movement.

Because the device operates so rapidly and for convenience in handling, it is desirable that the operator be permitted to drag the device along with the starting bar in continuous but sliding contact with the upper surface of the wiper and, if the throat I of the tacker were caused to depend into close contact with the work, it would be likely to drag against the work and obstruct the feed. On the other hand, it is desirable for accurate tack driving that the saidthroat reach nearly or quite to the work immediately adjacent the point at which the To meet these conditions, the throat 7 (see Fig. 11) as stated, is made vertically slidable in order that it may be dropped into contact with the work at the moment of tack driving and then raised to clear the work during the period of feed. To accomplish this vertical reciprocation of the said throat it is provided (see Figs. 3 and 8) with a laterally and vertically extended slide 62 which moves in suitable bearings therefor on the shell. Secured to this slide is a resilient or spring member 63, of general cam shape with which cooperates (see Fig. 3) a stud 64 on the lower end of the carrier bar 37. When the said carrier bar is depressed by the piston as the latter begins its descent, the stud 64 engages the abrupt incline of said spring cam enema 63 and depresses the latter before it until the connected throat contacts with the stock to lay the latter preparatory to receiving the tack, and is arrested in its descent by contact of its headed portion with the holding plug 8 (Fig. 11.) This insures proper position of the throat relative to the work, the said stud thereafter riding up the incline of the said spring cam, WhlCh latter gives way before it to ermit of the remainder of the downwar stroke of the piston to drive the tack. On the return stroke, and before the feed takes place, the return or upward movement of said stud by its frictlonal contact with the face of said spring cam causes the latter now to be raised and with it the said throat to clear the throat of the work before occurrence of the feed.

It will be observed that all the movements of the particular mechanism illustrated are interconnected in such a way that there can be no interruption in =the pro er order of the several movements. The evice is entirely automatic, nevertheless however rapidly the tacks may be driven it is certain that the feed will occur regularl ways for the desired distance an that the throat will always be next the work at the moment a tack is driven, and removed from the work before the feed occurs. The fact that the feed dog is held in contact with the work by a spring, permits the starting bar always to remain in continuous contact with the wiper upon which it rests, for the spring gives way as the feed dog walks along, instead of requiring the tacker to rise from the wiper and drop thereupon.

Vhile my invention is particularly adapted to a hand tacker, portable for the purpose described, nevertheless, my invention is not restricted thereto. I desire it to be understood that my invention is applicable to any use or type of machine to which it is adapted and in connection with which it should, either in whole or in part, prove useful.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown for the same, obviously, may be varied without departing from'the spirit and scope of my invent-ion.

While I have heretofore and in the claims shall refer to a tack driving device or tacker, the term tack is to be construed to cover any form of fastening of whatever length or character.

Claims.

1. A tack driving device comprisin in combination tack driving mechanism, eeding means for moving said device in substantially the plane of the work, and an extensible throat, both operated by said tack driving mechanism.

2. A tack driving device provided with a and al-' v slidably mounted extensible throat, means frictionally to move it toward and from the work, and pneumatically operated automatic stepy-step feed for moving the device over the work. a

3. A portable tack driving device provided with an extensible throat normally in retracted position, and means yieldingly to move it in the direction of the work.

4. A tack driving device provided with an extensible throat normally in retracted position, a guide for said throat, a stop to limit the outward movement of said throat relatively to its guide, and pneumatically operated automatic step by step feed for moving the device over the work.

5. A portable tack driving device having a pneumatically operated step-b -step feed for automatically moving the evice over the work, a spring to im el it toward the work, and means positivel y to lift it therefrom.

6. A portable power tack driving device, comprislng a casing, a throat having a passageway for tacks therethrough, a pneumatically operated driver for driving the tacks, a feed device for feeding tacks to be driven, means connected to the driving means for operating the feed device, and a slide mounted on the casing and movable by placing the device in position to drivetacks for starting the operation of the driver.

7. A portable power tack driving device, COIIIPIlSIII a casing, a throat having a passageway for tacks t-herethrough, a pneumatically operated driver for driving the tacks, a tack raceway connected to and port able with the tack driving device, a feed dcvice for feeding tacks to be driven, means connected to the driving means for operating the feed device, and a slide mounted on the casing and movable by placing the device in position to drive tacks for starting the o eration of the driver. 8. X portable power operated tack driving devlce, comprising a casing, a throat for the passage of tacks therethrough, a tack raceway connected to said casing, a pneumaticall operated driver for driving the tacks, va ves for controlling the operation of the driver, a slide carried by the casing and having an extended portion by which it is moved in placing the tack driving device in tack driving position, and va ve operating means connected to said slide for starting the tack driving device.

9. A portable tack driving device for moving over the work provided with an automatic step by step feed for moving said device over the work and with an extensible tack driving throat, combined with a work contacting starter for said device,'feed and throat.

10. A portable power operated tack driving device, comprising a casing, pneumatical y operated driving means mounted thereon, a tack raceway connected to the casing, a feeding slide for detaching a tack from the raceway and moving it into (tack driving position, means connected to the driving means for moving the slide, valves for controlling the action of the driver, a slide mounted on the casing, and a part operated by the slide for moving one of the valves for starting the driving device when it is placed in tack driving position.

11. A tack driving device comprising, in combination, tack driving mechanism, a dog 51 for feeding the device along the work, a starter 19 having its lower end adjacent the end of the dog for setting the device in operation, and means for operating the dog 51.

12. In a tack driving device, the combination of tack driving mechanisms, fluid pressure means for operating the same, a casing, valves for controlling the operation of v the tack driving mechanism, a lever pivotally mounted on the casing and controlling the said valves, and a slide on the casing having one end normally below the end of the casing and operatively related to one of the valves on the casing to cause the tack driving mechanism to start into operation when the device is placed in tack slide having an end normally extended be yond the end of the throat and mounted on and portable with said portable casing, said slide havin a part to move a valve and start the device into operation as it is placed in tack driving position.

14. In a tack driving device, the combination of a tack driver, means for actuating the same, pneumatically operated feeding means for moving the device, a throat, and means for raising the throat from the work to permit feeding movement and lowering it to the work for tack drivin 15. In a portable tack driving device, the combination of a tack driver, means for operating the same, feeding means for moving the device along the work, a throat, means for raising the throat from the work durin feeding movement, and a starter for contro ling the operating means adapted to have sustained contact with a part adjacent the work during the operation of said devlce.

16. In a tack driving device, the combination ofa portable casing, a pneumatically operated driver carried by the casin valves for controlling the action of the river, a

= ing the 'feedingdevice, and a slide havin throat havin a, passageway for tasks exinto operation as it is placed in tack driving 10 tended beyond the end of the casing, a feedposition. ing device to sugply tacks to thethroat, In testimony whereof, I have signed my means movable :-w1th the driver for operatnameto this specification, in the presence of two subseribin witnesses.

RTON D. PHELAN.

an end'normally extended beyond the en of the throat and mounted on and portable Witnesses:

with said portable easing, said slide having FREDERICK L.- EMERY, a part to move a valve and start the device I ROBERT H. KAMMLER. 

